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On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, Joseph P. McDonald manned the switchboard at Fort Shafter in Hawaii when he received the alarming message that radar had detected a large number of planes approaching from the north, heading fast for Oahu.
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Motorists who use the Pango mobile app to pay at parking meters in Scranton will get reimbursed for any inadvertent overcharges since Sept. 1, the new operator of the city’s parking system said.
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The ailing Valley View High School pool is temporarily closed. School board directors unanimously voted Wednesday to decommission the natatorium and preserve the area until funding becomes available
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Article Tools

Editor: The article "Scranton board changes code, can accept vendor money," on July 17 and the editorial "Board paves the way for shakedowns" on July 18 seem to suggest that because the Pennsylvania School Boards Association Code of Conduct, which was recently adopted by the Scranton School Board, does not specifically discuss campaign contributions to board members from employees or vendors, that the code may allow such a practice to take place.

What the articles don't mention is that the crimes code, school code, election law and ethics act already make it illegal for school directors to accept donations or gifts intended to influence official action or to demand campaign contributions or other donations from employees.

The PSBA Standards and Code of Conduct are not intended to be a supplement to or reiterate the ethics act, election law or crimes code, nor to displace a school board's ethics policies, but focus instead on how the school district's leadership team functions as a group and works together.

There is nothing about those templates that prevents a school board from maintaining separate ethics standards that go beyond what the ethics act provides, but reiterating what the crimes code and other laws already provide is not the purpose of local board policy.

STEVE ROBINSON

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS,

PA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION

Poor defense

Editor: Jim Kobeski attempted to defend the Episcopal Church, which he claims was incorrectly portrayed in a Ross Douthat column. But in his July 27 defense letter, "Welcoming church," Mr. Kobeski does to the Roman Catholic Church precisely what he accuses Douthat of doing to his church - namely incorrectly portraying it by making statements that are flat- out wrong.

I commend Mr. Kobeski for attempting to defend his Episcopal Church albeit he does ignore most of Douthat's narrative. Perhaps he did this because he couldn't or wouldn't refute the substance of the Douthat article, and chose instead to often attack, criticize and denigrate the Roman Catholic Church. But why do this to an institution which, more than any other on earth, feeds the hungry, houses the homeless, clothes the naked, cares for the sick, visits prisoners and educates millions of God's people?

The substance of Douthat's article deals with the many changes made by the Episcopal Church during the last several decades. These changes have transformed that church into one of the most self-consciously progressive of Christian bodies. But all those changes have proven to be ineffective in attracting new members.

The Episcopal Church is not the only Christian denomination that is losing membership. The Roman Catholic Church and other denominations also are experiencing this problem. The solution is not to change the sacred, basic, time-proven tenets of our Christian faith but, like our leader, Jesus of Nazareth, let us sacrifice, pray and work at trying to change the hearts and minds of our fellow human beings so that they will truly love God and their neighbor. Let us all work together in this noble cause.

Mr. Kobeski's stirring defense of the Episcopal Church made me recognize the good in organized religion, even though I think organized religion is the biggest problem in the world. I don't know much about theology, but I know that the golden rule is right without being told so by any church. Loving your neighbor as yourself is a no-brainer.

Loving a particular God does not lead to armed conflict and war, but dividing ourselves into camps based on ancient and intolerant thought does.

The idea of a church evolving should be a cause for celebration, not a reason to pronounce that church's last rites. Centuries from now, I think "Liberal Christianity" will hold some appeal, if we don't nuke each other first.

MIKE HARRIS

NICHOLSON

Fall from within

Editor: Monsignor William Lynn, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia priest recently sentenced to three to six years in prison for covering up evidence and transferring pedophile priests in his position as secretary of clergy, is a scapegoat.

He was in the wrong position at the wrong time, taking orders from the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. He was the fall guy for the late cardinal, whose orders had to be followed to the letter, according to news reports. Under Cardinal Bevilacqua, Monsignor Lynn was told to shred and destroy evidence to protect the church.

The news gets grimmer every day. A sitting bishop in West Virginia, a native of the Philadelphia Archdiocese, is being looked at again for inappropriate conduct with boys.

The devil himself is at work destroying the Catholic Church as we know it. According to an old prophesy, the Catholic Church will be destroyed from within, not from outside forces. God forbid. We must pray for the church.

GERALD MOON

SCRANTON

Bad sign

Editor: I was out of town for a while and returned to learn a local religious/spiritual gift shop and bookstore was closing. It is one of few in Northeast Pennsylvania.

I was saddened because it was a favorite stop of mine, but more importantly I was concerned about a business such as this not being supported and unable to remain open. It is a sad commentary on our society.

LORI CARLIN

OLYPHANT

Late niche

Editor: After many years of retirement, I have found my niche in life. About six months ago, I decided to volunteer a couple of days a week at the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter. I started walking the dogs. Since then I have found out there are many other ways one can help.

In all my years, I have never come across such a group of dedicated and caring staff and volunteers looking after these beautiful animals -dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles, birds, and other pets of all kinds.

What's even more amazing is the staff and volunteers know each animal by its name. That is something.

The reasons all the pets, for no fault of their own, wind up at the shelter are many and varied.

I have three cats and they are like my kids. What it costs to take care of them, they repay me with entertainment and loyalty. Even though the animals at the shelter get the best of care, it takes money, lots of money to keep the shelter operating. Food, cat litter and vet care are costly.

For those who can donate, I'm sure the animals will be grateful for any amount you can spare.

LOUIS DAROCY

SCRANTON

Paying tribute

Editor: Sept. 1 at 2:30 p.m. we will again gather at Washburn Street Cemetery to remember the 61 men and boys who gave their lives on Sept. 6, 1869, at the Avondale Mine in Plymouth. Others are laid to rest in other parts of Northeast Pennsylvania.

We are determined to see Washburn no longer be a neglected place and perhaps, through our continued annual remembrances, this will happen.

We ask all to join us on that day because this is our Northeast Pennsylvania history. The miners gave their lives so that generations later, we could live a better life.

RICHARD SEDLISKY

NEW YORK, N.Y.

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